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Walker says that when Kennedy lowered the tax rate on the wealthy from 91% to 71% that tax revenues went up.  The revenues did go up but that was not because the rate went down (that would be completely illogical) but because he closed vast loopholes that had allowed the wealthy to avoid taxes.  So with loopholes closed the wealthy paid more taxes at the lower rate than they had at the higher rate.  

posted 2 years, 11 months ago
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     The question of cost came up during the show and I wanted to add this tidbit.  This is not a comparison of hospital vs. home birth, this is an example of how health care cost have spiraled upward over time.  I was born in 1946, before health care insurance and have before me my parents hospital bill for an uncomplicated vaginal  delivery.  It was a grand total of $60.70 which included 5 days/4 nights stay in the hospital.  In today's dollars that would be $701.09 !!   A 1946 dollar= $11.55 in 2009.

                                                  1946                     2009

DELIVERY SERVICE                    $15.00                 $173.25

DRUGS 16236                            $ 2.00                  $ 23.10

DRUGS 16290                            $ 1.00                  $ 11.55

XRAY                                          $12.00                 $138.60

DRUGS 16373                            $   .70                  $    8.09

ROOM RENT MOM 15TH-19TH     $24.00                 $277.20

ROOM RENT BABY 15TH-19TH     $ 6.00                  $ 69.30

P.S.   As I look at the submitted copy I see that the price columns are not straight.  It's easier to read comparisons across (and is, after all the point) than to read down the columns.  I don't have time at the moment to go back and set up columns.    So I offer my apologies instead.

posted 3 years ago
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